Opening Feast
Naruto leaned against the cushioned seat of the train compartment, arms folded loosely over his chest as he listened to the conversation unfold. Next to him, Draco lounged comfortably, exuding the effortless confidence of someone who had been raised to believe the world was his for the taking.
Across from him, Blaise Zabini watched the conversation unfold with vague amusement, his sharp, dark eyes studying Naruto in a way that suggested he was mentally filing away everything the blond said. Theodore Nott, quieter but no less observant, leaned back in his seat, fingers lazily tapping against his knee, while Pansy Parkinson sat beside him, her expression teetering between curiosity and mild distaste.
Haku sat beside Naruto, his composed expression betraying little, but Naruto knew he was paying close attention. As always, his presence was as steady as the surface of a still pond, but underneath was an ocean of quiet strength. Naruto had relied on that strength more times than he could count, and he didn't doubt he'd rely on it again here.
"So, you and Haku aren't from any of the big wizarding families?" Blaise asked, his voice smooth, each word measured. He tilted his head slightly, a lock of dark curls falling into his face. "No pureblood ties?"
"Nope." Naruto popped the "p" slightly, smirking as he met Blaise's gaze. "I mean, technically no. We aren't wizards, so we don't follow the same system as you."
That got a reaction.
Pansy scrunched her nose. "So, you're…"
"A Muggleborn?" Theodore finished, quirking an eyebrow.
Naruto shrugged. "If that's what you want to label it. Doesn't really matter to me, either way."
Blaise gave him a considering look. "That's… unusual. I thought with your clothing that you were the heir of some pureblood family."
Naruto didn't miss the way Pansy's lips curled slightly, just a flicker of distaste before she smoothed her expression back into neutrality. He recognized it for what it was; judgment. Not outright hostility, but the kind of ingrained bias that had been taught rather than felt.
Draco, who had been quiet up until now, shifted slightly in his seat. His silver eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he said nothing.
Naruto sighed, resting his hands behind his head. "Let me guess, you guys were raised on the whole 'pureblood superiority' thing?"
Pansy huffed, crossing her arms. "Well, of course. Magic has been passed down in our families for centuries-"
"So?" Naruto cut in, his voice even but firm.
Pansy blinked. "What?"
"I mean, yeah, that's nice and all, but just because someone's family has had magic longer doesn't mean they're better at it." Naruto tilted his head. "What matters is what you do with it, right?"
Theodore leaned back, watching Naruto with mild intrigue. "That's not how wizarding society sees it."
Naruto scoffed. "Yeah, well, society also used to think kings were chosen by the gods. The emperor of Japan had claimed divine right to rule, for instance. Doesn't mean it was true."
There was a pause.
Draco let out a quiet breath through his nose, his expression unreadable.
Blaise's lips twitched slightly, though whether in amusement or thoughtfulness, Naruto wasn't sure. At least it wasn't hostile.
"That's… an interesting perspective," Blaise admitted after a moment.
"I think it's a logical one." Naruto shifted, tapping his fingers against his knee. "Look, where I come from, bloodlines matter too. Some clans are born with abilities others don't have, others have special techniques that make them stand out. But that doesn't mean someone outside one of these clans is weak, it just means they have to work harder, get creative, and be stubborn in developing his skill."
His blue eyes darkened slightly, his gaze drifting past the others in the compartment, unfocused. "I knew someone who didn't have any fancy bloodline abilities, but he could take down people who did. Sure gave my ass a beating too. But he did it because he was strong without the blood of a clan and because of who he chose to be."
Haku's gaze softened slightly, knowing exactly who Naruto was talking about.
Pansy frowned but didn't immediately refute him.
Blaise, ever the pragmatist, considered his words. "So you're saying magical ability isn't tied to blood?"
"I'm saying it doesn't define your worth," Naruto corrected. "Doesn't matter if you're born a pureblood, half-blood, or Muggleborn. If you're weak, you're weak. If you're strong, you're strong."
"Let me ask you this final thing," Naruto continued, now meeting Theodore's gaze directly. "After the war with Voldemort, a lot of pureblood families were wiped out, yeah? Either killed or lost everything. And some of those who won? A lot of them weren't purebloods. So tell me, who was really superior in the end?"
Theodore exhaled through his nose, his mind turning over Naruto's words. "Huh."
Draco smirked slightly, his silver eyes flickering with something close to approval.
Pansy, though still skeptical, seemed at least partially affected. She didn't argue further, which Naruto considered a minor victory.
"So, what do you know about the Houses?" Theodore asked, shifting the conversation to something more relaxed.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Oh, I've been given the rundown." He counted off on his fingers. "Gryffindors are reckless idiots, Ravenclaws are nerds, Hufflepuffs are pushovers, and Slytherins are all evil snakes."
Draco snorted. "That's what they say, yeah."
Pansy smirked. "Not far from the truth."
"Actually, I think that's crap." Naruto crossed his arms.
Blaise raised a brow. "Oh?"
Naruto leaned forward slightly. "Let's break it down. Gryffindors? Yeah, they can be reckless, but they're also brave as hell. When they believe in something, they fight for it, even if the odds are against them. That's not stupid, that's conviction. They just don't always think before they act."
Theodore chuckled. "I'll give you that."
"Ravenclaws?" Naruto continued. "People call them bookworms, but knowledge is power. The problem is, they sometimes get so caught up in facts that they forget about the real world. But if you ever need someone who can outthink their opponent, they're your best bet."
Draco nodded, his expression thoughtful.
"Hufflepuffs? Everyone calls them pushovers, but from what I hear, they're the most loyal people you'll ever meet. And that's not a weakness. That's strength. A Hufflepuff will fight to the end for their friends. They don't care about glory, just doing the right thing."
Haku, silent until now, spoke softly, "Loyalty is not weakness. It is a foundation."
Naruto nodded.
"And then there's Slytherin," he said, glancing around. "People say they're evil. But that's just because they do whatever it takes to win. They think ahead, play the long game. Yeah, some Slytherins take it too far, but that's not the House's fault."
Blaise tapped his fingers on the armrest. "It's because of Salazar Slytherin."
"Exactly." Naruto pointed at him. "Because of one guy's ideals, the whole House got a bad reputation. And yeah, some people in Slytherin live up to it, but that's on them, not the House itself." He leaned back. "It's like saying all Gryffindors are reckless, all Ravenclaws are arrogant, or all Hufflepuffs are useless. It's not true."
The compartment was quiet for a moment.
Blaise, Theodore, and Pansy looked… thoughtful. Not entirely convinced, but something in their expressions had shifted.
Draco, still smirking, finally spoke. "You're a weird one, Naruto."
Naruto grinned. "That's the nicest thing you've said to me all day."
Draco rolled his eyes, but there was no malice in it.
Haku glanced at Naruto, a ghost of a smile on his lips. Naruto had done it again; challenged an ingrained system with nothing but his words and a bit of stubborn belief.
And from the looks of it, he might have even planted the seeds of doubt.
As the train continued toward Hogwarts, Naruto turned his gaze to the window, his thoughts drifting.
Hogwarts would be interesting.
And he was just getting started.
As the students filed into the antechamber, whispering nervously among themselves, Naruto and Haku lingered near the back. The grand stone walls of Hogwarts loomed around them, their ancient magic thrumming in a way Naruto could feel beneath his skin.
Draco, Blaise, Theo, and Pansy had already broken off from the group of students, slipping into the Great Hall ahead of them as older students. Ordinarily, Naruto would have been expected to go with the first-years, but instead, he turned to follow the others into the Great Hall, ignoring the confused glances of a few students.
"Oi, where are you going?" One of the older prefects frowned, clearly expecting Naruto to fall in line with the expected arrival of eleven-year-olds.
Before Naruto could answer, a calm voice interrupted.
"Mister Uzumaki."
Naruto turned, meeting the sharp gaze of Professor Flitwick. The tiny professor barely reached his waist, but there was something in his eyes that held immense power.
Flitwick gave him a small, knowing smile. "You and your companion are not ordinary first-years, so your Sorting will not follow the usual tradition. Please, come with me for a moment."
Naruto exchanged a glance with Haku, who nodded slightly. Without hesitation, the two followed Flitwick away from the antechamber, heading down a side corridor that led toward a quieter hallway. The echoes of the Great Hall's murmuring voices still reached them, but they were apart from the others now.
Once they stopped, Flitwick clasped his hands together. "As you may have already guessed, your circumstances are rather unique. Normally, first-years are Sorted before the feast begins, but given that you are transferring into Hogwarts under exceptional conditions, Headmaster Dumbledore has decided to introduce you separately."
Naruto raised a brow. "Separately?"
Flitwick nodded. "You will be Sorted after the first-years. First, your friend Haku, and then yourself."
Naruto resisted the urge to sigh. He wasn't one for ceremonies, but he supposed he couldn't just slip in unnoticed.
Flitwick gave them both a reassuring nod before gesturing toward the Great Hall. "You may return now. Simply remain near the entrance until the Sorting concludes. Then, you will have your turn."
With that, he turned and headed toward the staff table.
Naruto and Haku exchanged glances before stepping back into the Great Hall, lingering near the doors as the first-years were led forward toward the Sorting Hat.
The Great Hall was as grand as Naruto had imagined; high, vaulted ceilings charmed to mirror the night sky, flickering candles floating in midair, and four long tables stretching across the space, each filled with students watching the Sorting with anticipation. At the far end of the hall, the staff table was positioned, and at the center sat Dumbledore himself, his half-moon spectacles glinting as he surveyed the scene with mild amusement.
The Sorting Hat, an old, tattered thing, rested upon a wooden stool, twitching slightly as if aware of its audience. Professor McGonagall stood beside it, parchment in hand, ready to call out the names of the first-years.
One by one, the new students were called forward, each stepping nervously onto the stool as the Hat was placed on their head.
"Gryffindor!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Slytherin!"
Applause erupted from the respective tables each time a new student was placed. Naruto found himself only half-paying attention, his thoughts drifting as he scanned the room. He caught sight of Draco and the others sitting at the Slytherin table, their eyes flicking to him curiously.
A few students whispered among themselves, clearly wondering why Naruto and Haku weren't in line with the rest of the first-years.
Eventually, the final name was called, and the last nervous eleven-year-old rushed off to join their new House.
Professor McGonagall rolled up her parchment, stepping back as the murmuring in the Great Hall settled.
Dumbledore rose to his feet, his blue eyes twinkling with unreadable emotion as he spread his arms wide.
"Before we begin our feast, I have a special announcement," he said, his voice carrying effortlessly across the hall. "This year, we are honored to welcome a foreign student into our ranks. A young man whose journey has been quite different from those who traditionally attend our esteemed school."
A ripple of curiosity spread through the hall.
Naruto felt the weight of hundreds of eyes settling on him.
Dumbledore smiled. "Naruto Uzumaki will be joining us as a second-year, though he has never attended Hogwarts before. Due to his unique situation, he will be Sorted today along with our new first-years. I trust that you will all give him a warm and respectful Hogwarts welcome."
A murmur of excitement, confusion, and intrigue spread across the room.
Naruto rolled his eyes. Great. Now I'm a spectacle.
Dumbledore's gaze flickered toward him, and for a brief moment, Naruto swore he saw something knowing, perhaps even amused, in the old man's eyes.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward once more. "And with that, we shall now proceed with the final Sortings. Yuki, Haku, please step forward."
Haku gave Naruto a brief glance before moving toward the Sorting Hat, his expression composed.
He had a feeling this was going to be interesting.
Haku moved forward with practiced grace, his expression composed. He took his seat and allowed McGonagall to place the Sorting Hat on his head.
"Hmm… well, well, what do we have here?" the hat mused inside Haku's mind. "Loyalty… such fierce, unwavering loyalty. That's rare, even among the most dedicated of wizards. There is ambition here, but it's not for yourself, is it? No, everything you do is for him."
Haku did not respond. He knew exactly what the hat was referring to.
"You'd do anything for Naruto Uzumaki."
"Without hesitation."
The Sorting Hat hummed in thought. "I see courage… the kind that would rival any Gryffindor, and a mind sharp enough for Ravenclaw. And yet, neither of those are quite right, are they? Your loyalty defines you above all else."
A pause.
"You belong in-"
"Hufflepuff."
A murmur swept through the hall at the unexpected placement. Hufflepuff was known for its loyalty, but many had expected Haku to join Slytherin alongside Naruto.
Haku removed the hat and calmly walked toward the Hufflepuff table, where the students clapped and made room for him. He nodded in greeting but remained mostly silent, his gaze flickering toward Naruto.
"Uzumaki, Naruto."
Naruto strode forward, unbothered by the attention. He sat on the stool, allowing McGonagall to place the Sorting Hat on his head.
"Oh my… what an interesting mind we have here."
Naruto frowned. He didn't like the feeling of something prodding into his thoughts, even if it was just a hat.
"Power… immense, untapped power. And something else… oh? What's this?"
The hat hesitated. It had been in many minds before, but this—this was something different. Something ancient. Something watching.
A deep, growling voice echoed through Naruto's mind, low and dangerous.
"You are trespassing, little relic."
The Sorting Hat froze as it could practically see and feel the presence of something so much stronger than comprehension.
Kurama.
The nine-tailed beast, the Uzumaki Greater Spirit, the Fox of Destruction. A being of immense energy and presence could leave even the most hardened, the most wise, of mortals stunned. His presence flooded Naruto's mind, vast and overwhelming, and resisted the humble probing of the hat.
The hat was suddenly aware of just how deep Naruto's mind ran; layers upon layers of sealed knowledge, memories hidden beneath an abyss of magic, all timed to release in times suitable for the young child. Ancient magic that even the hat knew nary a syllable of its name let alone its history.
It knew immediately it was not welcome here.
Kurama's presence pressed forward, neither aggressive nor kind - just a warning.
The Sorting Hat backed off, retreating to the surface level of Naruto's thoughts.
Naruto, unaware of the silent battle, waited.
"Cunning. Strategic. You think three steps ahead, sometimes more. You see systems for what they are, and you are not afraid to manipulate them if necessary. But your goal is to change it for the better. You would do well in Slytherin."
Naruto smirked. "That so?"
"Yes. And yet, you are not without courage. A Gryffindor's bravery, a Ravenclaw's intellect… even a Hufflepuff's loyalty but only to those you call your own. Ambition runs deep in you, even if you do not yet recognize it."
Naruto's fingers twitched slightly on his lap.
"The path ahead is uncertain, but one thing is clear; you will do great things."
Naruto's smirk widened into an excited grin. "Then put me where I'll thrive the most."
The Sorting Hat chuckled. "Very well."
"SLYTHERIN!"
The hall erupted into applause, though the reactions were mixed. The Slytherin table cheered, though some looked uncertain about accepting an unknown variable into their ranks. The Gryffindors looked wary, while the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables mostly observed with curiosity.
Naruto removed the hat and made his way to the Slytherin table, where Draco, Pansy, Blaise, and Theodore made room for him.
"You took long enough," Draco quipped.
Naruto grinned. "Had to make sure I wasn't thrown into the wrong place."
Blaise raised an eyebrow. "And? Did it try to put you somewhere else?"
Naruto shrugged, grabbing a goblet of pumpkin juice, and decided to tease the others. "It considered Gryffindor for a second."
Pansy made a face. "Ugh."
Theodore smirked. "That would've been a disaster."
Naruto laughed, settling into his new place among them. Across the hall, at the Hufflepuff table, Haku met his gaze and gave a small nod.
They were in different Houses, but that wouldn't change anything.
As Dumbledore stood to make his speech, Naruto leaned back slightly, absorbing the atmosphere.
He was ready for this new school, and whatever challenges it may bring.